Unable to join Microsoft 365 Family Group

The expired Microsoft 365 Family subscription on the account does not prevent joining a new family group or using someone else’s shared Microsoft 365 Family benefits. The blocking issue is almost always the current family-group membership or the way sharing is configured.

Use these steps to resolve it:

1. Confirm current family-group membership
   • Go to the Microsoft Family Safety page: account.microsoft.com/family.
   • Check which family group the account is in and who the organizer is.
2. Leave or be removed from the existing family group
   • If the account is in a different family group than the brother’s, it must be left/removed before joining his group.
   • To remove the account from its current group:
     • If the account is an organizer:
       1. Sign in at account.microsoft.com/family.
       2. Select the three dots next to the account name and choose Leave family group.
       3. Confirm Remove.
     • If the account is a member and another person is the organizer:
       1. Ask that organizer to sign in at account.microsoft.com/family.
       2. They select the three dots next to the account name and choose Remove from family group.
       3. They confirm Remove.
   • Note: Leaving or being removed from a family group causes loss of any shared Microsoft 365 Family benefits from that group.
3. Join the brother’s family group correctly
   • The brother (subscription owner) must:
     1. Have an active Microsoft 365 Family or Microsoft 365 Premium subscription.
     2. Have a free share available (maximum of five other people).
     3. Invite this account to his Microsoft family group and ensure the invitation is accepted.
   • After the invitation is sent:
     • Open the invitation email and select Join now.
     • Complete the steps to join his family group.
   • Only after joining his family group will his subscription dashboard show Start sharing for this account, and then the Microsoft 365 benefits will apply.
4. If the invitation or sharing still does not work
   • Verify:
     • The brother is the subscription holder and can see Share subscription on the Subscriptions page.
     • The account is not already getting full Microsoft 365 Family benefits from another shared subscription (if so, it cannot receive another share).
   • If needed, the brother can stop sharing with someone else (if already at five people) from the sharing dashboard and then share with this account again.

The expired subscription itself does not need to be removed; the key is to leave the old family group and then accept and complete the brother’s family-group invitation so he can start sharing his Microsoft 365 Family subscription with this account.

References:

• Troubleshoot sharing a Microsoft 365 subscription
• How to leave a Microsoft family group
• Manage Microsoft 365 Family subscription sharing
• Share your Microsoft 365 Family or Premium subscription